A Project

on
Surface Technology
By
1st semister

Department of Busniess Administration

Faculty of Management Sciences
International Islamic University Islamabad
*2010*

INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS SURFACE TECHNOLOGY?
Microsoft Surface is a forthcoming product from Microsoft which is developed as software and
hardware combination technology that allows a user (s) to manipulate digital content by the use
of natural motions or physical object.

The software giant has built a new touch screen computera coffee table that will change the
world soon. No keyboard and mouse. The next generation of computer interfaces will be handson.

This could involve the motion of hands or physical objects.

Microsoft Surface is a surface computing platform that responds to natural hand gestures and real
world objects.
Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips.
It has a 360-degree user interface, a 30-inch reflective surface with a XGA DLP projector
underneath the surface which projects an image onto its underside, while four cameras in the
machine's housing record reflections of infrared light from objects and human fingertips on the
surface. Objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by placing and moving placed objects.
Surface has been optimized to respond to 52 touches at a time.
Using the specially-designed barcode-style "Surface tags" on objects, Microsoft Surface can
offer a variety of features.
A commercial Microsoft Surface unit is $12,500 (unit only), whereas a developer
Microsoft Surface unit costs $15,000 and includes a developer unit, five seats and support.

BACKGROUND

The technology behind Surface is called multi-touch and has at least a 25-year history, beginning
in 1982, with pioneering work being done at the University of Toronto (multi-touch tablets) and
Bell Labs (multi-touch screens). The product idea for Surface was initially conceptualized in
2001 by Steven Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research.
In October 2001, a virtual team was formed with Bathiche and Wilson as key members, to bring
the idea to the next stage of development.
In 2003, the team presented the idea to the Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, in a group review.
Later, the virtual team was expanded and a prototype nicknamed T1 was produced within a
month. The prototype was based on an IKEA table with a hole cut in the top and a sheet of
architect vellum used as a diffuser. The team also developed some applications, including
pinball, a photo browser and a video puzzle. Over the next year, Microsoft built more than 85
early prototypes for Surface. The final hardware design was completed in 2005.

FIRST USERS OF MICROSOFT SURFACE TECHNLOGY:

On April 17, 2008 AT&T became the first retail location to launch Surface.
In June 2008 Harrahs Entertainment launched Microsoft Surface at Rio bar.
On August 13, 2008 Sheraton Hotel Pakistan {Karachi} introduced Surface in their hotel lobbies
at 5 locations.
On September 8, 2008 MSNBC began using the Surface to work with election maps for the 2008
US Presidential Election on air.

SURFACE TECHNOLOGY CREATING NEW BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES EVERY DAY
Microsoft Surface is redefining how customers get things done. Dining, shopping, playing and
collaborating will never be the same again.

Customers have more control and flexibility of their experience, which creates more
opportunities and efficiencies for companies.
Heres just some of the ways Surface Technology is helping companies today.

Enhance the customer experience

Cross-sell and up-sell products
Cross-sell and up-sell products
Attract new customers
Grow new revenue streams
Differentiate product offerings
Improve brand perception
Increase customer satisfaction and loyalty
Reduce cost of service

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
Here are examples of how Microsoft Surface Technology can make a difference in your industry:

FINANCIAL SERVICES:
Microsoft Surface can help replace complicated product descriptions with a dynamic and easy-to-use
interface that is empowering and engaging.

FOR EXAMPLE:
An employee and customer may use Surface as their collaborative meeting space, reviewing portfolio
options and creating a more personal and informed customer experience that drive higher customer
loyalty, while improving brand image.

HEALTH CARE
Microsoft Surface can help improve the clinic and patient relationship.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Patients can receive a better clinic experience by allowing self check-ins or researching and
reviewing treatment options in collaboration with clinical staff.

FOR CLINICIANS:
Microsoft Surface could be used as a smart white board for the emergency room or medical
center, helping teams collaborates on treatment options.

HOSPITALITY:
Microsoft Surface offers entirely new ways to inform and entertain customers, helping boost revenue
without incurring higher staffing costs.

FOR EXAMPLE:
Loyalty cards can be placed on Microsoft Surface to trigger purchases of a customers favorite drink or
meal. Or companies could extend their digital marketing campaigns to include an onsite presence, with
interactive content, games, and virtual tours.

RETAIL:
Microsoft Surface can connect customers with more and richer product information and create
collaborative sales engagements right inside retail outlets, connecting the physical store, sales staff and
digital content.

FOR EXAMPLE:
Surface recognizes mobile devices, allowing customers to download product information, compare
products, cross-sell related items, and select add-on features.

PUBLIC SECTOR:
Microsoft Surface creates a seamless way of connecting people with important and complex
data.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Security or emergency agencies can create a collaborative digital command center for planning
and orchestrating large scale events, with agency personnel working together with real time
mapping and location data.
Educators can deploy Microsoft Surface in classroom settings to create an entirely new way to
integrate rich and interactive digital content into the learning environment.

MICROSOFT SURFACE TECHNICAL

RESOURCES
Microsoft Surface is a new product and a new platform, and there are multiple resources that
describe the various aspects of Surface.

FOR DEVELOPERS:
If we want to start developing Surface applications, the following resources can help us set up
our development environment and develop our first, basic Surface application.

RELATED TECHNOLOGIES AND RESOURCES:

Surface technology describes tools and technologies that we might want to learn more
about as we develop Surface applications, Including Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF),
XNA, and Expression Blend.

SURFACE SDK:
This package includes the Microsoft Surface SDK 1.0 SP1 Workstation Edition installation file
and documentation. The Surface SDK includes the APIs, documentation, and tools to help our
develop Surface touch-enabled applications on our workstation. Before we download the Surface
SDK, make sure to read the Setting up a Development Environment article to learn about the
hardware and software requirements for developing Surface applications on a workstation.

SURFACE SDK DOCUMENTATION IN THE MSDN LIBRARY:

Surface technology provides the latest information about how we can develop and design
applications for the Surface software platform, including control-specific design guidelines,
quick starts for creating WPF and XNA applications, examples that explain common surface
programming tasks, and sample applications that demonstrate multiple Surface programming
techniques in a complete application.

FOR DESIGNERS:
To understand the unique aspects of designing Surface experiences, Microsoft Surface User
Experience Guidelines plays an important role. These guidelines are intended for designers,
program managers, and developers of Surface applications to inform about requirements and
recommendations for designing great Surface applications.

FOR IT PROFESSIONALS:
If we are managing one or more Surface units in a venue, first we have to understand the core
administration tasks that we can perform with a Surface unit, including planning, configuring
and deploying, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE OF SURFACE TECHNOLOGY

]
Software and hardware of the surface technology is given below:

Microsoft operating system of Vista

Intel dual core processor backed by 2GB of RAM

256MB video card

5 video infrared cameras

30 inch screen 1024 x 768 resolution (sits 21 inches off ground)

DLP projector

Each unit will cost between $5,000 - $10,000 currently

Multitouch Screen

Infrared LED light source- multiple cameras net resolution 1280 x 960

CPU- Central Processing Unit

Projector- DLP light engine (like the ones in HDTVs) resolution 1024 x 768 pixels
Surface is a 30-inch (76 cm) display in a table-like form factor, 22 inches (56 cm) high, 21
inches (53 cm) deep, and 42 inches (107 cm) wide. The Surface tabletop is acrylic, and its
interior frame is powder-coated steel. The software platform runs on a custom version of
Windows Vista and has wired Ethernet 10/100, wireless 802.11 b/g, and Bluetooth 2.0
connectivity. Surface applications are written using either Windows Presentation Foundation or
Microsoft XNA technology.

ATTRIBUTES OF SURFACE TECHNOLOGY

Following are the attributes of the surface technology:

Direct Interaction
Multitouch
Multiuser
Object Recognition

DIRECT INTERACTION:
Direct Interaction refers to the user's ability to simply reach out and touch the interface of an
application in order to interact with it, without the need for a mouse or keyboard.

MULTI-TOUCH:
Multi-touch contact refers to the ability to have multiple contact points with an interface, unlike
with a mouse, where there is only one cursor.

MULTI-USER:
Multi-user is a benefit of multi-touch several people can orient themselves on different sides of
the surface to interact with an application simultaneously.

OBJECT RECOGNITION:
Object recognition refers to the device's ability to recognize the presence and orientation of
tagged objects placed on top of it.

APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT:
Microsoft Surface applications can be written in Windows Presentation Foundation or XNA. The
development process is much like normal Vista development, but custom WPF controls had to
be created by the Surface team due to the unique interface of Surface. Developers already
proficient in WPF can utilize the SDK to write Surface apps for deployments for the large hotels,
casinos, and restaurants.

IMPLEMENTATION
This new technology will be used first as an entertainment commodity in:

Restaurants
Hotels
Video puzzles
This new technology will be used first as an entertainment commodity in hotels, restaurants and
retail venues
It will be initially launched at Harrahs hotel in Las Vegas, Starwood Hotels and T-mobile.
Restaurant uses- see a virtual menu on screen and order right from the table your beverages and
food selections then split the bill and pay electronically at the same time by putting your card on
the surface

Hotel uses- concierge services for guests to look up a theater in the area and order tickets
pull up a map on how to get there and download the directions and the tickets into your
cell phone or mobile device.

T-mobile stores- can place two cell phones on the surface and compare the different price
points and features, experiment with ring tones and look at plans then program the phone
to your liking and have it all set to use before you walk out of the store.

Video puzzle- use clear tiles on the surface and each tile has a moving piece of the puzzle
that you have to match up with other pieces while the picture(video) is in perpetual
motion on the tiles.

POSITIVE EFFECTS OF SURFACE

TGECHNOLOGY

Multi users collaborative effort of users interacting

Seamless no wires or USB ports
Instant download/upload of photos
Users have more control of technology ordering food or manipulating photos fast
Educational learn more info about the products you are using

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SURFACE

TECHNOLOGY

Not portable table has to stay put.

Must own devices such as a cell phone to upload photos in to or share with others.
Have to be careful of table surface to not damage it.
Very expensive to own.

IMPLEMENTION OF SURFACE TECHNOLOGY

IN OUR DAILY LIFE
Surface technology plays an important role in our daily life:

For example allows manipulation and direct control of digital content like photos- which can be
resized bigger or smaller instantly with the touch of a finger.

EXAMPLE FROM WINE GLASS:

Surface technology using an object with a Tag-Wine glass placed on surface to bring up brings
up other information about this particular wine.

EXAMPLE FROM PAINT BRUSH:

Demonstration of the multitouch screen with the use of an object- paintbrush to simulate painting
a picture.

SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND BLUETOOTH:

The surface technology table is connected with the Bluetooth in the same way as we activate and
use the Bluetooth in the cases of mobiles.

SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND WI-FI:

WI-FI (Wireless Fidelity) technology (is the recent technology advancement in wireless
communication connected with the surface technology.

SURFACE TECHNOLOGY, Inc

STI,Surface Technology International, is the UK market leader for contract electronics

manufacture, utilizing the very latest technology and equipment from its Manufacturing Centre
in Hook, Hampshire. STI consistently deliver high quality and repeatable production, as well as
offering high levels of protection for your IPR (intellectual property (rights).

Our in-house expertise and experience enables us to take your project from concept to
completion, ensuring high yields to support cost down initiatives. Surface Technology, Inc. is a
key leader in the metal finishing industry.
STI has the unique distinction of making all of its technologies available as both services from its
production facility or through chemical products available for customers to implement
themselves.
By manufacturing as well as applying its own chemical products:

STIs coating services embody the highest quality at the most economical basis.

Users of STIs chemical products benefit from unprecedented firsthand knowledge and support
of these products from their STI technical representatives.
STI boasts a full line of electro less nickel products and services including the composite
electro less nickel technologies. These composite coatings embody a synergy between hard
electro less nickel plating and a wide variety of surface Technology, Inc. is a key leader in the
metal finishing industry. STI has the unique distinction of making all of its technologies
available as both services from its production facility or through chemical products available for
customer STI completes pre-registration of its chemical solutions for REACH(Registration,
Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) to insure continuous flow of its
proprietary solutions to the European marketers to implement themselves.

ADVANCED SURFACE TECHNOLOGY

AST Products, Inc. was founded in 1989 to develop novel surface technologies and coatings.
Initially a research based organization; AST now offers a line of patented and proprietary
coatings for the medical device and specialty materials industries. It also provides specially
engineered plasma reactors and analysis equipment that facilitate the application of their
advanced coatings. Housed in a 23,000, ISO 9001:2000 registered, GMP compliant facility
complete with Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 clean rooms, advanced analytical and research

labs, and a state of the art machine shop, AST can offer contract coating services to companies
that require the highest degree of quality from its suppliers.

PARTNERSHIP APPROACH:
AST understands that its customers expect a committed partner. To that end, AST collaborates
with its customers from beginning to end. Customers enjoy complete access to AST's
considerable technical expertise throughout the design and development process.By working
with customers every step of the way, small design changes can be made early in the process.
This prevents huge delays and overruns late in the game. Our partnership support does not end
with the finalization of coating formulation or product design. We work with the customers to
ensure smooth and trouble-free implementation at their or at AST's facilities. Additionally,
AST's experienced staff continues to provide assistance throughout any approval or installation
process.